British thermal units per second (Btu/s) to Kilowatts (kW) conversion

British thermal units per second to Kilowatts conversion table

British thermal units per second (Btu/s)Kilowatts (kW)
00
11.0550559990844
22.1101119981687
33.1651679972531
44.2202239963374
55.2752799954218
66.3303359945061
77.3853919935905
88.4404479926749
99.4955039917592
1010.550559990844
2021.101119981687
3031.651679972531
4042.202239963374
5052.752799954218
6063.303359945061
7073.853919935905
8084.404479926749
9094.955039917592
100105.50559990844
10001055.0559990844

How to convert british thermal units per second to kilowatts?

Converting between British thermal units per second (BTU/s) and Kilowatts (kW) involves understanding the relationship between these two power units. Here's a comprehensive guide.

Understanding the Conversion

The conversion between BTU/s and kW is based on a fixed ratio, since both units measure power, which is the rate of energy transfer or conversion per unit time. Since these measurements are not digital, base 10 and base 2 are not applicable.

The Conversion Factor

The conversion factor is:

1 BTU/s=1.055056 kW1 \text{ BTU/s} = 1.055056 \text{ kW}

Conversely:

1 kW=0.947817 BTU/s1 \text{ kW} = 0.947817 \text{ BTU/s}

This conversion factor is derived from the definitions of BTU and Watt. A BTU is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A Watt is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI), defined as one joule per second. The relationship between BTU and Joules (and thus Watts and Kilowatts) provides the conversion factor.

Step-by-Step Conversion Instructions

Converting BTU/s to kW

To convert BTU/s to kW, multiply the value in BTU/s by 1.055056.

Example:

Convert 1 BTU/s to kW:

1 BTU/s×1.055056=1.055056 kW1 \text{ BTU/s} \times 1.055056 = 1.055056 \text{ kW}

Converting kW to BTU/s

To convert kW to BTU/s, multiply the value in kW by 0.947817.

Example:

Convert 1 kW to BTU/s:

1 kW×0.947817=0.947817 BTU/s1 \text{ kW} \times 0.947817 = 0.947817 \text{ BTU/s}

Real-World Examples

  1. Heating Systems: When evaluating the capacity of heating systems, such as furnaces or boilers, both BTU/s and kW are used. For example, a small electric heater might be rated at 1 kW, which is approximately 0.947817 BTU/s.

  2. Air Conditioning: Air conditioning systems often have their cooling capacity measured in BTU/hour, which can then be converted to BTU/s and further to kW to understand the power consumption.

  3. Power Plants: Large-scale power plants generate electricity, which can be measured in Megawatts (MW). These values can be converted to BTU/s to compare energy output. For instance, a 1 MW power plant produces 1000 kW1000 \text{ kW} which is approximately 947.817 BTU/s947.817 \text{ BTU/s}.

  4. Industrial Processes: Many industrial processes involve heat transfer, and understanding the power requirements in both BTU/s and kW is crucial for designing and optimizing these processes.

Historical Context and Interesting Facts

James Prescott Joule (1818-1889), a British physicist, is closely associated with the unit of energy known as the Joule. His work on the mechanical equivalent of heat laid the foundation for understanding the relationship between mechanical work and heat, which is fundamental to the conversion between BTU and Kilowatts. Joule's experiments helped establish the first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of conservation of energy. This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

The BTU is a traditional unit, still used in some contexts primarily in the United States, while the Kilowatt is part of the SI system and is used globally in scientific and engineering applications. The need to convert between them often arises in international projects or when dealing with equipment from different regions.

See below section for step by step unit conversion with formulas and explanations. Please refer to the table below for a list of all the Kilowatts to other unit conversions.

What is British thermal units per second?

British thermal units per second (BTU/s) is a unit of power representing the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit in one second. It's a measure of the rate at which energy is transferred or consumed. It is commonly used in the United States in power, steam generation, heating, and air conditioning industries.

Understanding British Thermal Units (BTU)

Before diving into BTU/s, let's understand what BTU represents. One BTU is approximately:

  • The energy produced by burning one match.
  • The amount of energy needed to heat about 1 pound (0.45 kg) of water by about 1°F1°F (0.56°C) at its maximum density.
  • About 1055 Joules.

Defining British Thermal Units per Second

British thermal units per second is measurement of Power. As a standard formula power is:

Power=EnergyTimePower = \frac{Energy}{Time}

The formula to calculate BTU/s from BTU is simple, and is shown below:

BTU/s=BTUSecondBTU/s = \frac{BTU}{Second}

Conversion to Other Units

Here's how BTU/s relates to other common power units:

  • 1 BTU/s = 1055.06 Joules/s (Watts)
  • 1 BTU/s ≈ 1.055 Kilowatts (kW)
  • 1 BTU/s ≈ 1.41 Horsepower (hp)

Real-World Examples and Applications

BTU/s is frequently encountered when discussing the power output or consumption of various systems:

  • Heating and Cooling Systems: Large HVAC systems (like those in commercial buildings) are often rated in BTU/s to indicate their heating or cooling capacity.
  • Power Plants: The rate at which a power plant generates energy can be expressed in BTU/s.
  • Industrial Processes: Many industrial processes that involve heat transfer use BTU/s as a measure of power.
  • Geothermal energy: Geothermal gradient is commonly measured in BTU/hr/ftBTU/hr/ft (British thermal units per hour per foot).

Important Considerations

British thermal unit is an imperial unit. Although it is still used in the power industry, It is considered obsolete. SI unit for the same purpose is Watt.

What is kilowatts?

Let's explore the concept of kilowatts, a crucial unit for understanding power in various applications.

Understanding Kilowatts (kW)

A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It represents 1,000 watts. Power, in physics, is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. One watt (W) is defined as one joule per second (1 J/s). Therefore, one kilowatt is 1,000 joules per second.

1kW=1000W=1000Js1 kW = 1000 W = 1000 \frac{J}{s}

Formation of Kilowatts

The term "kilowatt" is formed by adding the prefix "kilo-" to the unit "watt." "Kilo-" is a standard prefix in the metric system that denotes a factor of 1,000.

  • Watt (W): The base unit of power, named after James Watt.
  • Kilo (k): Prefix meaning 1,000.

Thus, a kilowatt is simply 1,000 watts. This makes it easier to express larger amounts of power in a concise and manageable way.

Kilowatts and James Watt

As mentioned above Watt (W) is named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. While the kilowatt is a derived unit (1000 watts), it's directly linked to the base unit named in his honor. Watt's work on steam engines significantly contributed to our understanding and utilization of power.

Real-World Examples of Kilowatt Usage

Kilowatts are commonly used to measure the power consumption of various appliances and systems:

  • Electric Heaters: A typical electric heater might use between 1 kW and 3 kW.
  • Air Conditioners: A window air conditioner could use around 1 kW, while a central air conditioning system might use 3 kW to 5 kW or more.
  • Ovens: An electric oven can draw between 2 kW and 5 kW when in use.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): The power output of an EV motor is often expressed in kilowatts (e.g., 150 kW). The charging rate of an EV is also measured in kilowatts. A Level 2 charger might deliver 7 kW, while a DC fast charger could provide 50 kW or more.
  • Solar Panels: The power output of solar panels is typically rated in kilowatts. For example, a residential solar panel system might have a capacity of 5 kW to 10 kW.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

It's essential to differentiate between kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh). Kilowatts measure power (the rate of energy use), while kilowatt-hours measure energy (the total amount of energy used over time). One kWh is the amount of energy used by a 1 kW device operating for one hour. Utility companies typically bill for energy usage in kWh.

Energy(kWh)=Power(kW)Time(hours)Energy (kWh) = Power (kW) * Time (hours)

For a deeper dive, consider exploring resources like Electrical units for detailed explanations of electrical units.

Complete British thermal units per second conversion table

Enter # of British thermal units per second
Convert 1 Btu/s to other unitsResult
British thermal units per second to Watts (Btu/s to W)1055.0559990844
British thermal units per second to Milliwatts (Btu/s to mW)1055055.9990844
British thermal units per second to Kilowatts (Btu/s to kW)1.0550559990844
British thermal units per second to Megawatts (Btu/s to MW)0.001055055999084
British thermal units per second to Gigawatts (Btu/s to GW)0.000001055055999084
British thermal units per second to Horsepower (metric) (Btu/s to PS)1.4344769438213
British thermal units per second to Foot-pounds per second (Btu/s to ft-lb/s)778.16937
British thermal units per second to Horsepower (British) (Btu/s to hp)1.4148534